Thursday, July 25, 2013
The best is yet to come!
There is so much going on in the area of animated and live action comic book character entertainment that it is hard to know where to begin. It was not so many years ago that the entertainment industry looked at comic related properties as “schlock” low budget fare.
Today those same properties are a pillar of the entertainment industry generating revenue in the BILLIONS of dollars.
This summer alone we have already had two tent pole films in Man of Steel and iron man. This week The Wolverine opens domestically and is sure to add to the tally. And still to come are Thor: The Dark World, Kick Ass 2, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For ( now held until 2014) and Red 2.
And the wave of comic related films shows no sign of cresting. Just this week it was announced at the San Diego ComicCon that in 2015 we are going to get a Superman/Batman cross over.
It doesn’t end with movies either. This past season the CW’s Arrow was a runaway hit. Premiering this fall the Joss Whedon created “Agents Of Shield” is slated to make it’s debut on ABC. And of course Walking Dead is arguably the biggest hit on TV (well maybe Game of Thrones but it’s CLOSE!)
DC Animated has released a new CGI series, “Beware The Batman”, a few weeks ago. Based on the first two episodes it has the potential to rival “Batman The Animated Series” In popularity.
It doesn’t end with 2013 either. The list of upcoming comic related films is impressive. Check out these confirmed projects which are at various stages of development:
X-men: Days of Future Past (20140, Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014), Black Panther (2014), Ant-Man (2015), The Flash (2016), and Guardians of The Galaxy (2014), just to name a few. Of course we know that a planned Avengers 2 : The Age of Ultron is slated for Summer 2015.
Amazing stuff. No genre has so dominated the box office since the golden age of Westerns back in the 1930’s and 1940’s.
We comic book “geeks” are no longer the oddballs. We are , dare I say it, mainstream.
…not sure how I feel about that. It might be time to shake things up!
That’s 30
Mitch
Friday, June 28, 2013
Truth...Justice and The American Way
It may sound old fashioned, clichéd even. But…we need heroes.
Often the heroes that have a wide spread inspirational impact are fictional. But don’t hold that against them. Being fictional does NOT mean they are not “real” or that they do not impact the “real” world in a very meaningful way.
How many people became scientists, astronauts, NASA personnel because they were inspired by the fictional heroes in Star Trek and Star Wars?
How many people became policemen, firemen, EMT professionals etc because they were inspired by the likes of Sherlock Holmes or Batman?
In the Captain America movie, don’t you get a lump in your throat when Cap comes marching back with the soldiers he helped rescue? I know I do.
Didn’t Rocky inspire millions of people to understand that there is no shame in being knocked down as long as you give everything you have to get back up again?
We have a common need to be inspired by heroes. We aspire to be more like those exemplars. This common cultural need goes back all the way to the very first story tellers in ancient times. How many were inspired by Achilles, Agamemnon and Hercules? How many tried to be like them?
Inspiration…aspiration.
My old friend Ray and I were talking yesterday about how fictional heroes like Superman provide (even for adults) a symbol of something better. Ray and I are a pair of crotchety curmudgeons but we share a world view in which concepts like honor, duty and heroes are inspirations, not punch lines.
Heroes give us something to aspire to. It is why there has been such a hot debate over the ending of The Man of Steel. But it got me to thinking about one of the first mottoes if you will, that helped me define who I am at my core.
It inspired me to aspire…at age six.
Truth Justice and the American way.
It was the last line in the opening of the old Adventures Of Superman TV series.
It is such a well known slogan that it became trivialized over the years. Almost something to be embarrassed about. A punch line.
Then I see where the Supreme Court made two major rulings that go a long way in providing Truth Justice and The American way to a large portion of fellow Americans and I wonder how anyone could ever trivialize or be embarrassed about “The American way”.
I remember when students, black and white were killed on freedom rides. I remember when women were little more than chattel in the practical sense. I remember good men dying in Dallas, in Memphis and in LA.
It’s been nearly 50 years since we lost John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. They were men who believed in Truth Justice and the American way. They died believing in it.
Fast forward not SO many years and we have a man of color in the White House. Something I never thought I would see.
I am a white, heterosexual married man and I will say that without a doubt that the day that Barcak Obama was elected President was my proudest day as an American. It doesn’t matter what you think of the President as a politician, or even how he does his job. It is the FACT of Mr. Obama as our President that speaks to Truth Justice And The American Way.
What makes it even more uplifting is that he gets NO breaks for being a man of color. He is treated as The President, not The Black President. . He gets beat up in the press as much as any WHITE President! There’s equality for you!!A subtle distinction, I grant you but another example of truth Justice And The American Way
In a pair of major rulings on Wednesday the Supreme Court ruled that married same sex couples are entitled to the same rights and privileged as heterosexual couples. This ruling was appropriate, common sense and American. The very fact that we even have to legislate for equal rights of any segment of our citizens speaks to the fact that, for as far as we have traveled, there is a long way to go.
Freedom is an absolute. It does not, and cannot apply to one person or group of people. It must apply to everyone or none of us is really free. Lincoln once observed that when ONE person is denied freedom we are ALL in chains. He could not have been more correct. Mr. Lincoln would have loved “Adventures Of Superman”.
Here’s the bottom line. ALL Americans are entitled to equal rights under the law. No exceptions, no questions. Individual sensibilities are irrelevant. ALL Americans get equal rights.
Just my opinion? Sure. But it is also…
Truth Justice And The American Way.
I learned that when I was six… from Superman.
That’s 30!
Mitch
Often the heroes that have a wide spread inspirational impact are fictional. But don’t hold that against them. Being fictional does NOT mean they are not “real” or that they do not impact the “real” world in a very meaningful way.
How many people became scientists, astronauts, NASA personnel because they were inspired by the fictional heroes in Star Trek and Star Wars?
How many people became policemen, firemen, EMT professionals etc because they were inspired by the likes of Sherlock Holmes or Batman?
In the Captain America movie, don’t you get a lump in your throat when Cap comes marching back with the soldiers he helped rescue? I know I do.
Didn’t Rocky inspire millions of people to understand that there is no shame in being knocked down as long as you give everything you have to get back up again?
We have a common need to be inspired by heroes. We aspire to be more like those exemplars. This common cultural need goes back all the way to the very first story tellers in ancient times. How many were inspired by Achilles, Agamemnon and Hercules? How many tried to be like them?
Inspiration…aspiration.
My old friend Ray and I were talking yesterday about how fictional heroes like Superman provide (even for adults) a symbol of something better. Ray and I are a pair of crotchety curmudgeons but we share a world view in which concepts like honor, duty and heroes are inspirations, not punch lines.
Heroes give us something to aspire to. It is why there has been such a hot debate over the ending of The Man of Steel. But it got me to thinking about one of the first mottoes if you will, that helped me define who I am at my core.
It inspired me to aspire…at age six.
Truth Justice and the American way.
It was the last line in the opening of the old Adventures Of Superman TV series.
It is such a well known slogan that it became trivialized over the years. Almost something to be embarrassed about. A punch line.
Then I see where the Supreme Court made two major rulings that go a long way in providing Truth Justice and The American way to a large portion of fellow Americans and I wonder how anyone could ever trivialize or be embarrassed about “The American way”.
I remember when students, black and white were killed on freedom rides. I remember when women were little more than chattel in the practical sense. I remember good men dying in Dallas, in Memphis and in LA.
It’s been nearly 50 years since we lost John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. They were men who believed in Truth Justice and the American way. They died believing in it.
Fast forward not SO many years and we have a man of color in the White House. Something I never thought I would see.
I am a white, heterosexual married man and I will say that without a doubt that the day that Barcak Obama was elected President was my proudest day as an American. It doesn’t matter what you think of the President as a politician, or even how he does his job. It is the FACT of Mr. Obama as our President that speaks to Truth Justice And The American Way.
What makes it even more uplifting is that he gets NO breaks for being a man of color. He is treated as The President, not The Black President. . He gets beat up in the press as much as any WHITE President! There’s equality for you!!A subtle distinction, I grant you but another example of truth Justice And The American Way
In a pair of major rulings on Wednesday the Supreme Court ruled that married same sex couples are entitled to the same rights and privileged as heterosexual couples. This ruling was appropriate, common sense and American. The very fact that we even have to legislate for equal rights of any segment of our citizens speaks to the fact that, for as far as we have traveled, there is a long way to go.
Freedom is an absolute. It does not, and cannot apply to one person or group of people. It must apply to everyone or none of us is really free. Lincoln once observed that when ONE person is denied freedom we are ALL in chains. He could not have been more correct. Mr. Lincoln would have loved “Adventures Of Superman”.
Here’s the bottom line. ALL Americans are entitled to equal rights under the law. No exceptions, no questions. Individual sensibilities are irrelevant. ALL Americans get equal rights.
Just my opinion? Sure. But it is also…
Truth Justice And The American Way.
I learned that when I was six… from Superman.
That’s 30!
Mitch
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Man Of Steel
Man of Steel was a big thing for me. As you know if you have read my columns for like …ten minutes, I am an unabashed Superman fan. In a world with much “cooler” and “edgier’ heroes, Supes holds the number one spot in my pantheon of Superheroes.
Number two isn’t even close.
It’s Superman and all the rest.
So obviously I knew going in that I could NOT be unbiased about Man of Steel. I loved it before I saw a single frame of the film.
That was me going in. And for the most part, that was me coming out.
Man Of Steel IS an excellent film. It revitalized Superman for a modern audience and has re-launched a movie franchise that been dormant for far too long. Man of Steel is movie making on a HUGE scale. It made Avengers look like someone shot it in their back yard.
Henry Cavil looks someone lifted him off the comics page and brought Superman to life just to make the movie. He is the absolute embodiment of The Man Of Tomorrow.
Amy Adams is as close to a perfect Lois Lane as you could ever hope for. Plucky, dishy and tough as nails.
Russell Crowe, Kevin Kostner, Laurence Fishbourne and Diane Lane provide the same STAR power to the cast that Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman brought to Superman The Movie nearly four decades ago.
The movie set new June opening weekend box office records and has all but guaranteed that DC will be playing in the same live action sandbox as Marvel.
In every measurable way this film is a resounding success. I was not disappointed.
Are you sensing a “but” here?
Good…because there is a HUGE “but” coming.
You may want to stop right here because, while this has been all over the media, it IS a pretty big SPOILER.
Still with me?
OK..here is the thing.
Superman kills.
I have a problem with that. And yes I am aware that Superman has killed in the comics. It was a mistake then too.
While I am perfectly fine with reinvention, making Starbuck a girl, a new time line for Star Trek, rebooting Bond and even “shudder” a male Slayer. I am less fine with taking a core aspect of a character and tossing it aside.
If Superman kills he ceased to BE Superman. He’s Wolverine or Cap, maybe even Jack Bauer. But he is no longer Superman.
This is the single aspect of Superman that cannot be changed if you are going to maintain that character AS Superman.
Superman killing is like Sherlock Holmes relying on instance rather than deduction to solve crimes.
Alex Ross in the seminal graphic novel “Kingdom Come” has Superman go into exile over this very issue. He cannot kill EVEN for Lois.
Alan Moore in “Whatever Became Of The Man Of Tomorrow” sums it up like this. Nobody has the right to kill. Not you and Not Superman. Especially not Superman. At which point Clark exposes himself to Gold K, wiping out his powers forever.
They got the essential nature of Superman.
Even as a piece of film making that scene was forced. It was a set piece specifically designed so that Superman would kill Zod . You could see it coming a mile away. The sequence was hundreds of frames too long. If Superman HAD to kill, as a film maker you need to set it up so that the audience never sees it coming.
(See the Red Wedding in the penultimate episode of this seasons Game Of Thrones)
Unfortunately Zack Snyder (while he does have a lot of talent) is about as subtle as a dock strike.
If you commit to making the choice that Superman must kill then there must be a life changing consequence to that act. What consequence was there for Superman?
NONE.
Killed Zod? Betrayed all my beliefs? No biggie. Put on the glasses and cut to fade.
Not only did Snyder fail to maintain the integrity of the character, he did a piss poor job of bumping off Zod on the screen.
Does this destroy the film? Or Superman?
Nah. Far from it actually. Apparently this is the Superman a lot of people want. Just check out the box office.
Superman killing has spurred a LOT of debate.
Never a bad thing.
AND Superman killing has opened an opportunity for some compelling moments in the sequel IF the film makers decide to use it as a pivotal moment in Clark’s life that helps him to define himself going forward.
One thing’s for sure…this wasn’t your daddy’s Superman!
That’s 30!
Mitch
Number two isn’t even close.
It’s Superman and all the rest.
So obviously I knew going in that I could NOT be unbiased about Man of Steel. I loved it before I saw a single frame of the film.
That was me going in. And for the most part, that was me coming out.
Man Of Steel IS an excellent film. It revitalized Superman for a modern audience and has re-launched a movie franchise that been dormant for far too long. Man of Steel is movie making on a HUGE scale. It made Avengers look like someone shot it in their back yard.
Henry Cavil looks someone lifted him off the comics page and brought Superman to life just to make the movie. He is the absolute embodiment of The Man Of Tomorrow.
Amy Adams is as close to a perfect Lois Lane as you could ever hope for. Plucky, dishy and tough as nails.
Russell Crowe, Kevin Kostner, Laurence Fishbourne and Diane Lane provide the same STAR power to the cast that Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman brought to Superman The Movie nearly four decades ago.
The movie set new June opening weekend box office records and has all but guaranteed that DC will be playing in the same live action sandbox as Marvel.
In every measurable way this film is a resounding success. I was not disappointed.
Are you sensing a “but” here?
Good…because there is a HUGE “but” coming.
You may want to stop right here because, while this has been all over the media, it IS a pretty big SPOILER.
Still with me?
OK..here is the thing.
Superman kills.
I have a problem with that. And yes I am aware that Superman has killed in the comics. It was a mistake then too.
While I am perfectly fine with reinvention, making Starbuck a girl, a new time line for Star Trek, rebooting Bond and even “shudder” a male Slayer. I am less fine with taking a core aspect of a character and tossing it aside.
If Superman kills he ceased to BE Superman. He’s Wolverine or Cap, maybe even Jack Bauer. But he is no longer Superman.
This is the single aspect of Superman that cannot be changed if you are going to maintain that character AS Superman.
Superman killing is like Sherlock Holmes relying on instance rather than deduction to solve crimes.
Alex Ross in the seminal graphic novel “Kingdom Come” has Superman go into exile over this very issue. He cannot kill EVEN for Lois.
Alan Moore in “Whatever Became Of The Man Of Tomorrow” sums it up like this. Nobody has the right to kill. Not you and Not Superman. Especially not Superman. At which point Clark exposes himself to Gold K, wiping out his powers forever.
They got the essential nature of Superman.
Even as a piece of film making that scene was forced. It was a set piece specifically designed so that Superman would kill Zod . You could see it coming a mile away. The sequence was hundreds of frames too long. If Superman HAD to kill, as a film maker you need to set it up so that the audience never sees it coming.
(See the Red Wedding in the penultimate episode of this seasons Game Of Thrones)
Unfortunately Zack Snyder (while he does have a lot of talent) is about as subtle as a dock strike.
If you commit to making the choice that Superman must kill then there must be a life changing consequence to that act. What consequence was there for Superman?
NONE.
Killed Zod? Betrayed all my beliefs? No biggie. Put on the glasses and cut to fade.
Not only did Snyder fail to maintain the integrity of the character, he did a piss poor job of bumping off Zod on the screen.
Does this destroy the film? Or Superman?
Nah. Far from it actually. Apparently this is the Superman a lot of people want. Just check out the box office.
Superman killing has spurred a LOT of debate.
Never a bad thing.
AND Superman killing has opened an opportunity for some compelling moments in the sequel IF the film makers decide to use it as a pivotal moment in Clark’s life that helps him to define himself going forward.
One thing’s for sure…this wasn’t your daddy’s Superman!
That’s 30!
Mitch
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Requiem For Carmine
You may not know this but if it hadn’t been for a DC creator there might never have been a Fantastic Four, or Avengers…or X-men. In fact if it had not been for this particular DC creator there might never have been a Silver Age of Comics.
Carmine Infantino was that DC creator. He was born in Brooklyn on May 24, 1925 and spent most of his life as a comic book artist and editor. But he was much more than that. Carmine was an idea man, a creator.
He left us on April 4th of this year at the age of 87. He left behind a trove of over 60 years of wonderful comic book art dating back to 1942.
When I was a kid in the very same Brooklyn that had produced Carmine you would be hard pressed NOT to see his work on several covers a month. He had a slick, modern style that was his alone. He gave Batman his “new look” and introduced Batgirl (Detective # 359 in 1967), created Deadman in Strange Adventures #205 and was THE Adam Strange artist.
AND he gave us the Silver Age of Comics.
After the Second World War comic book superheroes had almost entirely faded from the comic book scene. The entire Timely stable (including The Torch, Submariner and Captain America) were retired in favor of horror, western, humor and romance comics. The same was happening at DC with the exception of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. In fact the only “new” superhero to get his own book during this period was Superboy…who wasn’t really a new character at all. Just Superman, pint sized.
This would change in 1956 when Julius Schwartz assigned writer Robert Kanigher and Infantino with the task of reviving the superhero genre. Schwartz had reasoned that enough time had passed that an entire new generation of comic book readers had come along who had never been exposed to the huge roster of superheroes so prevalent during the Golden Age of Comics.
He was right. And he picked the perfect artist to shake the dust off of the old characters.
Beginning with the October 1956 issue of Showcase (#4) Infantino began the process of reviving defunct Golden Age superheroes. He began with the Flash.
He gave the character a whole new look, slicker and more modern, along with a more science fiction style back story. Barry Allen was a police Scientist who is accidently doused in a chemical bath when a stray lightning bolt strikes his lab. A stretch, maybe but a heck of a lot more plausible than the golden age origin which had Jay Garrick becoming the Flash from consuming “Hard Water’ (ice???)
The fresh new look and tight story telling was an immediate hit. In short order Showcase launched the Silver Age careers of The Atom, Aquaman…and some guy called Green Lantern among others. The superhero boom was on.
Over in Brave And Bold a superhero team was born…The Justice League Of America. The JLA was such a huge hit that it gave the boys over at Marvel the impetus to create their own team of super heroes…The Fantastic Four.
And we all know what happened after that! The Marvel Age Of Comics was born!!!
All because of a DC creator.
Carmine was not done though. As an editorial director he was instrumental in bringing an entire generation of new talent into the comics industry including Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams. In 1070 Carmine landed the Legendary Jack Kirby who created the Fourth World in the pages of Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen.
Infantino eventually became DC’s publisher in 1971, though he always kept his hand in the creative side including the creation of The Human Target in 1972. He would remain active into the new century and became a fan favorite at comic conventions across the country.
When Infantino passed from the scene in April he left behind a legacy of joy, fun and wonder.
Thanks Carmine.
That’s 30!
Mitch
Carmine Infantino was that DC creator. He was born in Brooklyn on May 24, 1925 and spent most of his life as a comic book artist and editor. But he was much more than that. Carmine was an idea man, a creator.
He left us on April 4th of this year at the age of 87. He left behind a trove of over 60 years of wonderful comic book art dating back to 1942.
When I was a kid in the very same Brooklyn that had produced Carmine you would be hard pressed NOT to see his work on several covers a month. He had a slick, modern style that was his alone. He gave Batman his “new look” and introduced Batgirl (Detective # 359 in 1967), created Deadman in Strange Adventures #205 and was THE Adam Strange artist.
AND he gave us the Silver Age of Comics.
After the Second World War comic book superheroes had almost entirely faded from the comic book scene. The entire Timely stable (including The Torch, Submariner and Captain America) were retired in favor of horror, western, humor and romance comics. The same was happening at DC with the exception of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. In fact the only “new” superhero to get his own book during this period was Superboy…who wasn’t really a new character at all. Just Superman, pint sized.
This would change in 1956 when Julius Schwartz assigned writer Robert Kanigher and Infantino with the task of reviving the superhero genre. Schwartz had reasoned that enough time had passed that an entire new generation of comic book readers had come along who had never been exposed to the huge roster of superheroes so prevalent during the Golden Age of Comics.
He was right. And he picked the perfect artist to shake the dust off of the old characters.
Beginning with the October 1956 issue of Showcase (#4) Infantino began the process of reviving defunct Golden Age superheroes. He began with the Flash.
He gave the character a whole new look, slicker and more modern, along with a more science fiction style back story. Barry Allen was a police Scientist who is accidently doused in a chemical bath when a stray lightning bolt strikes his lab. A stretch, maybe but a heck of a lot more plausible than the golden age origin which had Jay Garrick becoming the Flash from consuming “Hard Water’ (ice???)
The fresh new look and tight story telling was an immediate hit. In short order Showcase launched the Silver Age careers of The Atom, Aquaman…and some guy called Green Lantern among others. The superhero boom was on.
Over in Brave And Bold a superhero team was born…The Justice League Of America. The JLA was such a huge hit that it gave the boys over at Marvel the impetus to create their own team of super heroes…The Fantastic Four.
And we all know what happened after that! The Marvel Age Of Comics was born!!!
All because of a DC creator.
Carmine was not done though. As an editorial director he was instrumental in bringing an entire generation of new talent into the comics industry including Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams. In 1070 Carmine landed the Legendary Jack Kirby who created the Fourth World in the pages of Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen.
Infantino eventually became DC’s publisher in 1971, though he always kept his hand in the creative side including the creation of The Human Target in 1972. He would remain active into the new century and became a fan favorite at comic conventions across the country.
When Infantino passed from the scene in April he left behind a legacy of joy, fun and wonder.
Thanks Carmine.
That’s 30!
Mitch
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Quick Hits
Quick Hits
24: Live Another Day
Jack is seriously BACK! It hit the internet earlier this week that 24, the iconic action adventure series that takes place in (mostly) real time is going to be revived with a 12 episode “event” series in May of 2014. I for one am PUMPED about this one. Despite plot holes you could drive a truck through no TV series before or since has offered the sort of edge of your seat “Bourne” type action that we got from 24. Kieffer Sutherland returning to his best known role as the beaten up but never beaten down Jack Bauer is must see TV! You can read the press release below.
Fox Announces 24 Revival
It's official: Jack's back! Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly announced on a conference call Monday that the network is bringing back action series 24, with Kiefer Sutherland reprising his role as CTU agent Jack Bauer.
24: Live Another Day, which will likely premiere in May 2014 and run through the summer, according to Reilly, is being promoted as an event series and will consist of 12 episodes rather than the traditional 24.
"It will go in chronological order of the day, but it'll skip hours," Reilly told reporters.
When asked whether the new version could eventually morph into a full-fledged series, Reilly demurred. "It could be an annual event," he said. "There could be sequels. I don't know that they would be yearly."
Since 24 went off the air in May 2010, showrunner Howard Gordon (Homeland) has been mulling a movie based on the series, which never got off the ground. "As they got into the feature film, I think they all agreed 24 being compressed into two hours is not 24," Reilly said.
Aside from Sutherland reprising his role as Jack Bauer, no other casting announcements have been made.
"The response to 24 is unlike anything I have ever experienced as an actor before," Sutherland said in a statement. "To have the chance to reunite with the character, Jack Bauer, is like finding a lost friend. ... Make no mistake, my goal is to knock your socks off.
Trek Reviews are in!
Let me just say that I can NEVER be unbiased about Star Trek. For me BAD Star Trek is way better than NO Star Trek. I’m the guy who can actually sit through annual viewings of Star Trek The Motion picture and even SPOCK’S BRAIN!
But to tell the truth I was not getting swept up in the anticipation until I got hit with it in the most unlikely place…the boxing ring. I picked up the pay per view of Floyd Mayweather’s latest fight. For those of you who don’t know him, Mayweather is the pound for pound greatest active fighter on the planet). There…in the ring…on the canvas was the Star Trek : Into Darkness logo!
We have arrived! Star Trek made Vegas! PPV! A Championship Fight!
If that can’t get me stoked, nothing can.
Early reviews seem to be mostly positive, focusing on the non-stop action and the obvious chemistry between Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine (Spock and Kirk). So it looks like the sequel to the smash hit reboot, “Star Trek” will not disappoint.
Of course there HAVE been some negative reviews, notably in The Post.
I bet they won’t give Kieffer bad reviews! They may be dumb but they’re not STUPID ;)
DCUO is having a Crisis!
The successful MMO , DC Universe Online has just released their seventh DLC (expansion) Origin Crisis. As long time readers of DC comics know, the word “crisis” means EVENT. They are big, EPIC big. And the DCUO version is no different.
DC Origin Crisis is focused on a battle between Future Lex Luthor and future Batman across time with each character attempting to make changes to the time line that will greatly effect reality….well DC reality anyway.
Want to see an Evil Superman team up with Luthor? How about Bruce Wayne as Lex’s protégé? As a villain (yes you can eb a villain in DCUO) how do you stop changes to the time line that make Lex….GOOD???!!!
The new story line plays out in solo missions, four man operations and back breaking eight person raids. This is high end content but have no fear. New players to the game can quickly level up to this content by playing through the tier 1 through tier four raids and alerts.
PLUS DCUO is free to play!
DCUO is available on the PC and PS3.
So what are you waiting for??!!
Fair warning though. This game is seriously addictive and fun!
That’s 30!
Mitch
24: Live Another Day
Jack is seriously BACK! It hit the internet earlier this week that 24, the iconic action adventure series that takes place in (mostly) real time is going to be revived with a 12 episode “event” series in May of 2014. I for one am PUMPED about this one. Despite plot holes you could drive a truck through no TV series before or since has offered the sort of edge of your seat “Bourne” type action that we got from 24. Kieffer Sutherland returning to his best known role as the beaten up but never beaten down Jack Bauer is must see TV! You can read the press release below.
Fox Announces 24 Revival
It's official: Jack's back! Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly announced on a conference call Monday that the network is bringing back action series 24, with Kiefer Sutherland reprising his role as CTU agent Jack Bauer.
24: Live Another Day, which will likely premiere in May 2014 and run through the summer, according to Reilly, is being promoted as an event series and will consist of 12 episodes rather than the traditional 24.
"It will go in chronological order of the day, but it'll skip hours," Reilly told reporters.
When asked whether the new version could eventually morph into a full-fledged series, Reilly demurred. "It could be an annual event," he said. "There could be sequels. I don't know that they would be yearly."
Since 24 went off the air in May 2010, showrunner Howard Gordon (Homeland) has been mulling a movie based on the series, which never got off the ground. "As they got into the feature film, I think they all agreed 24 being compressed into two hours is not 24," Reilly said.
Aside from Sutherland reprising his role as Jack Bauer, no other casting announcements have been made.
"The response to 24 is unlike anything I have ever experienced as an actor before," Sutherland said in a statement. "To have the chance to reunite with the character, Jack Bauer, is like finding a lost friend. ... Make no mistake, my goal is to knock your socks off.
Trek Reviews are in!
Let me just say that I can NEVER be unbiased about Star Trek. For me BAD Star Trek is way better than NO Star Trek. I’m the guy who can actually sit through annual viewings of Star Trek The Motion picture and even SPOCK’S BRAIN!
But to tell the truth I was not getting swept up in the anticipation until I got hit with it in the most unlikely place…the boxing ring. I picked up the pay per view of Floyd Mayweather’s latest fight. For those of you who don’t know him, Mayweather is the pound for pound greatest active fighter on the planet). There…in the ring…on the canvas was the Star Trek : Into Darkness logo!
We have arrived! Star Trek made Vegas! PPV! A Championship Fight!
If that can’t get me stoked, nothing can.
Early reviews seem to be mostly positive, focusing on the non-stop action and the obvious chemistry between Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine (Spock and Kirk). So it looks like the sequel to the smash hit reboot, “Star Trek” will not disappoint.
Of course there HAVE been some negative reviews, notably in The Post.
I bet they won’t give Kieffer bad reviews! They may be dumb but they’re not STUPID ;)
DCUO is having a Crisis!
The successful MMO , DC Universe Online has just released their seventh DLC (expansion) Origin Crisis. As long time readers of DC comics know, the word “crisis” means EVENT. They are big, EPIC big. And the DCUO version is no different.
DC Origin Crisis is focused on a battle between Future Lex Luthor and future Batman across time with each character attempting to make changes to the time line that will greatly effect reality….well DC reality anyway.
Want to see an Evil Superman team up with Luthor? How about Bruce Wayne as Lex’s protégé? As a villain (yes you can eb a villain in DCUO) how do you stop changes to the time line that make Lex….GOOD???!!!
The new story line plays out in solo missions, four man operations and back breaking eight person raids. This is high end content but have no fear. New players to the game can quickly level up to this content by playing through the tier 1 through tier four raids and alerts.
PLUS DCUO is free to play!
DCUO is available on the PC and PS3.
So what are you waiting for??!!
Fair warning though. This game is seriously addictive and fun!
That’s 30!
Mitch
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Remembering RFK
“My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it. Those of us who loved him and who take him to his rest today, pray that what he was to us and what he wished for others will some day come to pass for all the world. As he said many times, in many parts of this nation, to those he touched and who sought to touch him: 'Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not”
Ted Kennedy’s Eulogy for his brother Robert F. Kennedy
I gave some thought about not addressing the final issue of Before Watchmen - The Comedian. Anyone who has spoken to me over the years knows that I advocate artists taking chances and trying new things. Creators who play it too safe are generally not too interesting to me.
Having said that, Brian Azzaerello’s trivializing of the RFK assassination is not, in my opinion an artist taking chances. It is a cheap attempt to shock. It is in bad taste.
Robert Kennedy was perhaps more than any of his contemporaries a symbol of hope and promise to the generation that grew up in the 1960’s…my generation. Perhaps Mr. Azzarello thinks we have all died off or no longer read comics. Perhaps being only about six years old at the time, Brian is somewhat indifferent to Bobby’s meaning to so many people not a hell of a lot older.
Regardless of his motivation, it was a misstep on the part of a very gifted writer.
He portrays Bobby as corrupt and disloyal and uses his death as a plot device.
Not only was that in bad taste. It was a disservice to the character of the comedian. FAR too predictable. I had in fact guessed that he would be RFK’s assassin by issue #3.
Am I angry about this? You bet.
Just a few things Brian forgot to mention about Bobby...
Bobby was an outspoken pioneer for Civil Rights.
Bobby was one of the first politicians to devote himself to ending the war in Viet Nam.
Bobby was THE driving force in the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis and almost singlehandedly averted a nuclear war with the Soviet Union.
He died too young, leaving behind family who may be aware of how shabbily he was treated by Mr. Azzarello.
Bobby deserved better.
That’s 30
Mitch
Ted Kennedy’s Eulogy for his brother Robert F. Kennedy
I gave some thought about not addressing the final issue of Before Watchmen - The Comedian. Anyone who has spoken to me over the years knows that I advocate artists taking chances and trying new things. Creators who play it too safe are generally not too interesting to me.
Having said that, Brian Azzaerello’s trivializing of the RFK assassination is not, in my opinion an artist taking chances. It is a cheap attempt to shock. It is in bad taste.
Robert Kennedy was perhaps more than any of his contemporaries a symbol of hope and promise to the generation that grew up in the 1960’s…my generation. Perhaps Mr. Azzarello thinks we have all died off or no longer read comics. Perhaps being only about six years old at the time, Brian is somewhat indifferent to Bobby’s meaning to so many people not a hell of a lot older.
Regardless of his motivation, it was a misstep on the part of a very gifted writer.
He portrays Bobby as corrupt and disloyal and uses his death as a plot device.
Not only was that in bad taste. It was a disservice to the character of the comedian. FAR too predictable. I had in fact guessed that he would be RFK’s assassin by issue #3.
Am I angry about this? You bet.
Just a few things Brian forgot to mention about Bobby...
Bobby was an outspoken pioneer for Civil Rights.
Bobby was one of the first politicians to devote himself to ending the war in Viet Nam.
Bobby was THE driving force in the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis and almost singlehandedly averted a nuclear war with the Soviet Union.
He died too young, leaving behind family who may be aware of how shabbily he was treated by Mr. Azzarello.
Bobby deserved better.
That’s 30
Mitch
Thursday, April 11, 2013
The FIRST Superman!
There have been many actors who have had the daunting task of portraying Superman since the iconic superhero first hit the stands in 1938.
Certainly no one has clocked more hours as The Man of Steel than Bud Collyer who portrayed Superman over 2000 times on the 1940’s radio program broadcast over the Mutual Network.
Kirk Alyn brought Superman to life in two very popular Columbia movie serials Superman (1948) and Atom Man Vs. Superman (1950)
The best known Superman for MY generation was none other than George Reeves who carried the torch for 104 episodes on Adventures OF Superman (1951-1958)
In 1966 there was Bob Holiday cavorting across the Broadway stage in the campy musical “It’s A Bird, it’s A Plane, It’s Superman”. The show was later made into a one night Late night special with David Wilson in the Role.
Perhaps the most familiar of ALL the Supermen is Christopher Reeve who created a standard for the Last Son OF Krypton that has yet to be equaled. Chris carried Superman through four feature films. One might EVEN say FIVE because Brandon Routh was nothing if not channeling Supes in Superman Returns.
Superboy was played at various times by John Haymes Newton, Gerard Christopher and Johnny Rockwell (in an unsold Superboy pilot).
Tom Welling enjoyed TEN years on television creating the most realistic and well developed Superman on Smallville.
…And in June we are set to see Henry Cavill in the new Blockbuster “The Man Of Steel”
But who was FIRST?
Who first donned the tights, jutted out his chest and thrilled children as the embodiment of Superman?
None of the above!
Superman was first brought to life by Ray Middleton, a well known character actor who’s career spanned four decades.
Middleton was hired to play Superman at the 1939 World’s Fair right here in New York. It may be easy to forget today but back in the late thrities the country was going through a full blown case of SUPERMANIA! The World’s Fair decided to capitalize on the new hero’s popularity by staging a “Superman Day” and tapped the square jawed Middleton for the role. He did this on July 3, 1940 soe even though the radio program made it’s debut in February 1940, Middleton is the first actor to play Superman in public in COSTUME.
Middelton appeared on Broadway in the original cast of Annie Get Your gun and Man of La Mancha. He was a guest on a wide variety of TV Shows including Ed Sullivan and MASH.
He passed away in 1984 at the age of 77. Middleton was certainly never a star. Just one of thousands of hard working actors who continue to carve out a career in a very tough field. But for a brief time, he was Superman! His place in the pantheon of actors who have given life to the Man Of Steel remains forever assured.
That’s 30!
Mitch
Certainly no one has clocked more hours as The Man of Steel than Bud Collyer who portrayed Superman over 2000 times on the 1940’s radio program broadcast over the Mutual Network.
Kirk Alyn brought Superman to life in two very popular Columbia movie serials Superman (1948) and Atom Man Vs. Superman (1950)
The best known Superman for MY generation was none other than George Reeves who carried the torch for 104 episodes on Adventures OF Superman (1951-1958)
In 1966 there was Bob Holiday cavorting across the Broadway stage in the campy musical “It’s A Bird, it’s A Plane, It’s Superman”. The show was later made into a one night Late night special with David Wilson in the Role.
Perhaps the most familiar of ALL the Supermen is Christopher Reeve who created a standard for the Last Son OF Krypton that has yet to be equaled. Chris carried Superman through four feature films. One might EVEN say FIVE because Brandon Routh was nothing if not channeling Supes in Superman Returns.
Superboy was played at various times by John Haymes Newton, Gerard Christopher and Johnny Rockwell (in an unsold Superboy pilot).
Tom Welling enjoyed TEN years on television creating the most realistic and well developed Superman on Smallville.
…And in June we are set to see Henry Cavill in the new Blockbuster “The Man Of Steel”
But who was FIRST?
Who first donned the tights, jutted out his chest and thrilled children as the embodiment of Superman?
None of the above!
Superman was first brought to life by Ray Middleton, a well known character actor who’s career spanned four decades.
Middleton was hired to play Superman at the 1939 World’s Fair right here in New York. It may be easy to forget today but back in the late thrities the country was going through a full blown case of SUPERMANIA! The World’s Fair decided to capitalize on the new hero’s popularity by staging a “Superman Day” and tapped the square jawed Middleton for the role. He did this on July 3, 1940 soe even though the radio program made it’s debut in February 1940, Middleton is the first actor to play Superman in public in COSTUME.
Middelton appeared on Broadway in the original cast of Annie Get Your gun and Man of La Mancha. He was a guest on a wide variety of TV Shows including Ed Sullivan and MASH.
He passed away in 1984 at the age of 77. Middleton was certainly never a star. Just one of thousands of hard working actors who continue to carve out a career in a very tough field. But for a brief time, he was Superman! His place in the pantheon of actors who have given life to the Man Of Steel remains forever assured.
That’s 30!
Mitch
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